Plumas Arts and Plumas County Library welcome California State Poet Laureate Dana Gioia to Plumas County

Plumas Arts, together with the Plumas County Library, presents a poetry reading and a conversation with Dana Gioia, California’s state Poet Laureate, on Monday, April 3, at 4:30pm at the Quincy Branch of the Plumas County Library. Gioia, as part of his mission to visit every county in the state while holding the title of Poet Laureate, has been making extended trips throughout California to promote interest and participation in poetry.

Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in December, 2015, Gioia serves as the state advocate for poetry and literature in libraries, classrooms and boardrooms across California. An award-winning poet, Gioia is the author of Can Poetry Matter?, which is credited for helping revive poetry’s role in American public life. He is also the former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts where he championed arts education. As state laureate, Gioia will work to inspire a new generation of writers and celebrate California’s great literary legacy. You can read more about him at www.danagioia.com.

The Plumas County event will include a reading from Margaret Elysia Garcia, a published writer, poet, and playwright who currently lives in Indian Valley, and finalists from the Poetry Out Loud county competition. Several students from Quincy Junior-Senior High School will read poems as well. Gioia will read from his work, and then hold a question-and-answer session with the audience.

“The question I hear most is, ‘What is a poet laureate?’” laughs Plumas Arts Executive Director Roxanne Valladao. “Most states have one, and California made it official in 2001 under Governor Gray Davis. Basically, a poet laureate’s job is to increase visibility and appreciation for poetry’s rich history and continuing relevance in our world.” She continues, “Having Dana here to share his work and perspective in such a personal way, particularly with our students, is an amazing opportunity. Make sure to mark your calendars for this one!”

Plumas Arts and the Plumas County Library are sponsoring this event, along with support from the California Arts Council, a state agency. The Friends of Library group will be providing light refreshments for attendees. For more information about this event and other programs of Plumas Arts, please call (530) 283-3402 or visit them online at www.plumasarts.org.